Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-12-16

were 1876.
The State Female Normal School
at Farmville is in its management,
efficiency and results highly salts
factory. There are IN the School
OF Practice and Observation and
Normal School proper 2l5 students.
At the Virginia Normal and
Collegiate Institute December l,
1886, there we're 1872 academic stu
dents. On December 1, 1887, the
number of academic students was
1S7.
These institutions all deserve
and should receive the hearty sup
port OF the representatives Of the
people. Their work is closely
woven with our entire educational
system. The higher round Of the
educational ladder may not be
reached by all classes, but is within
reach of all who climb boldly and
successfully the lower rounds of
the same ladder.
Indeed, Mr.. Jefferson, the found
er of our great University, ex-
pressed this view when he said !:
ave should always keep an eye
steadily on the whole system of
education; while the great Ger.
man pubiclst, DIR. Lieber, represent
ed the same idea when he tells us
that "the university and the COM
mon schools are the TWO buttresses
of the arch Of public education"
1t is essential to the prosperity of
both that each should be kept
strong, sound and firm.
In reference to the public shoots
| would recommend that by further
legislation the General Assembly
endeavOr to improve the system in
sparsely settled districts in the
different counties. In these dis
tricts the facilities for public school
education are susceptible of i'm
provement. I would also recon-
mend that some legislative action
be taken which would authorize the
beginning of elementary industrial
education or manual training in
the common and graded schools
Great technical schools with large
endowments are not within the
reach of all, but by a moderate ex-
penditure by the local authorities,
elementary industrial teaching can
be introduced effectively in a large
number of schools. | consider this
matter of great importance for
the future as bringing about a
more rapid development of the
products of our State and making
useful members in their respective
committees of her citizens. The
Miller Manual Labor School OF
Albemarle county would be able to
furnish teachers in this line for the
white classes while the Hampton
Normal and Industrial Institute
could furnish teachers tor the
colored classes. The splendid work
the two institutions have named
are doing within the limits of the
Commonwealth cannot be over
estimated, and the accomplished
superintendents could doubtless
give valuable suggestions as to the
feasibility OF introducing manual
and industrial training into our
public school system. The rapid
development of the industrial in
terests of Virginia points directly
to the Importance of giving special
attention to these subjects.
The Virginia Military Institute
is doing its accustomed good work
in annually returning to us educat-
ed men fully equipped for civil or
military work, ready and prepared
for either. The drawing depart
ment of the Institute should be ex-
tended to cover. the changes con
SANITY going on in the Depart
mept of Applied Sciences, and an
appropriation should be made
which would enable the Institute
to embrace the application OF
photography, now so necessary in
engineering and mining service.
The Agricultural and Mechanical
College at Blacksburg is IN a flour
ishing condition, with every pros
pect OF a large increase in its use
fitness. In order that it may con-
tinue IN its prosperous course and
be productive of great benefit to
our State, it should receives liberia
encouragement from the Legisla
ture. The State has appropriated
nothing for this institution since
1873. The barrack-rOOm is only
capable of containing eighty-foul
men, while the State is pledged e
furnish quarters for 200, 30 tha
rooms for quarters have to be rent
ed outside, a system prejudicial t(
good order and military discipline
A proper building for a machine
| shop is also necessary. The pres
ent small wooden building is en-
tirely inadequate to the necessltie
of this great branch of instruction
which Is made Q speciality at thi
college. j append to this report
letter from ltbe president ofith
! cdIlege in reference to the detail
I c$ the Recommendations !! her
(, make. - ',g
: The Virginia Normal and CD
legiate Institute is also ina go4'